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By SHEDDY OZOENE Simon Bako Lalong and Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha are two dogged fighters. Over time, both of them have earned their ranks in the rough terrain of Nigerian politics, fighting and winning notable battles along the way. Today the two who are still settling down in office as President Bola Tinubu's ministers are in the centre of an intriguing story. Two different genders from two different political backgrounds with a similar fairy tale of a story weaved by several twists of fate. Lalong served two terms as Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly between 1999 and 2007…

By TUNDE OLUSUNLE Let me begin by making a distinction here. Nigeria's military acknowledges two Obasanjos in its records. One has been retired for nearly 45 years now, while the other was at best a toddler when the older disengaged from military service. Both of them made it to the uppermost crust of the military, the former rising to the exclusive club of "four star" Generals," while the latter is a "one star" General. He will be decorated Major General, a "two star" General on his next elevation. One is the father, Olusegun Obasanjo, the first Nigerian to serve both…

By SHEDDY OZOENE The partial demolition of Datkem Plaza, a 5-storey shopping complex owned by the family of the former governor of Ogun state, Gbenga Daniel, has raised much dust in the state. Although the government of Prince Dapo Abiodun has gone to great length to state the facts behind the demolition and how it is about law, order and public safety, the former governor and his associates have been relentless in presenting the matter as an act of political vendetta. The demolition which occurred last Sunday, brings to the fore the soured relationship between the two leaders; more importantly,…

*Wike, Musa Dangiwa May Be Petitioned Over Sharp Practices By FHA Staff By CHIBUZOR ONYIA A violent confrontation was averted in Lugbe, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory on Saturday, when owners of Corner shops at Sector 'F' resisted attempts to build new shops on the setbacks from the adjourning road which would block entrance to existing shops. The indiscriminate building of new shops on setbacks between existing buildings and the roads were allegedly approved by officials of the Federal Housing Authority which owns the estate, in clear violation of their masterplan. Before the swearing-in of the new Housing…

EXPRESSO 》》By Steve Osuji  JUDGMENT WITHOUT JUSTICE: It was an unduly long and tiresome pronouncement last Wednesday,  6th of September. One couldn’t help but feel for lead justice,  Simon Tsammani.For over 12 hours,  he rattled on and on like a cranky molue. The old jurist hurtled endlessly over a rough terrain of arcane legalese. Half the time, half his audience was tired and weary and the other half  dozed. Hardly any one in the hallowed courtroom or without seemed to have joy listening to the labourous proceedings.Even Tsammani who projected some humour during the months of trial now sounded sombre…

Two weeks after she was sworn in as Nigeria's minister of State for Labour, Ms. Nkiruka Onyejeocha has won her election petition at the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia. The Tribunal, Wednesday, sacked the member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Amobi Ogah. Ogar ran for the election on the ticket of the Labour Party. It subsequently ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to withdraw the certificate of return given to Ogar and issue same to the Petitioner, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. Onyejeocha has since assumed…

*Party Rejects Judgment  The Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) has ruled that the Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, failed to prove their case against President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The five-man panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani first ruled that Obi failed to prove that he won the election and was denied victory by failure by INEC to substantially abide by the provisions of the Electoral Act. In its reaction to the judgement,  Labour Party has rejected the judgement by the Presidential Election Petition Court…

 By IKECHUKWU AMAECHI  Three weeks ago, I received a text message from someone who identified himself as Lemuel Iyalla, saying that he was directed by Dr. Christopher Kolade to invite me as his guest to an event where he will be honoured on September 7. The text came with an audio message which explained what the event is all about: “The Heritage for Life Foundation and Greenland Classics invite you to a Nonagenarian Concert and presentation of a book titled “Spirit of our Treasures” in honour of Dr. Christopher Kolade (CON), former Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, and…

*Abdulsalami Abubakar, Touray, Ribadu In Attendance *African Union Suspends Niger Republic *Major announcement May Follow Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has entered a crucial meeting that could decide whether the ECOWAS confronts the coup leaders in Niger Republic militarily or continue in the ongoing efforts to resolve the removal of the country's elected government diplomatically.  The meeting which is being attended by some critical ECOWAS stakeholders will be a last minute effort to defuse the smouldering political tension in the sub-region over the crisis in Niger Republic. Tinubu is the chairman of the authority of the Heads of State and…

By SHEDDY OZOENE The meeting of governors of the five South-East states in Enugu on 10th August 2023, was not their first under the auspices of the South-East Governors Forum, SEGOF, but it is easily the most remarkable in recent years. The hundred percent attendance of members was significant on its own but it also underscored their new-found eagerness to pursue the Forum’s objectives and tackle the challenges that have become obvious in the geopolitical zone. At hand were Governors Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Chukwuma Soludo (Anambra), Alex Otti (Abia), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi) and the host, Peter Mba of…